A rising star in the diet world, the wheat free diet is gaining momentum with more and more people following it every day. Some people follow wheat free diets because of an intolerance to wheat or yeast, while others follow it simply to eat healthier. Either way, the main goal of this diet is to stay away from most breads, grains and wheat. But that doesn’t mean that all your favorite recipes containing wheat ingredients go right out the window. There are substitutions available so you can still utilize many of those recipes you enjoy.

Flour is a great example of a common ingredient that is in several everyday recipes. There is a slew of flour substitutes that are readily available though and a simple swap can be made. The other added plus about flour substitutes is that most of them are actually better for you health-wise anyway. You will need to keep in mind however that it is common to experience a altering taste and textures when making any ingredient substitutions. Of all the available flour substitutes, millet, a good source of protein and silica, digests the easiest. A couple of others are Amaranth, also high in silica, as well as calcium and magnesium, and sorghum flour. That doesn’t mean that all flour substitutes are okay for a wheat free diet however. A few that are to be avoided are graham flour, wholemeal flour, kamut, spelt, sauce flour, self rising flours, brown, durum, granary, triticale, cakebulgar, semolina, and plain.

These flour substitutes are readily available at most health food stores. They can also be found in Asian food stores. In fact, you can even often find them in the normal everyday local supermarket, with today’s rising popularity in healthy eating.

It is notable to point out that there is a difference between being gluten intolerant and being wheat intolerant. Wheat intolerance is people that are intolerant of mainly wheats and yeast, while a gluten intolerant person is intolerant of all these things as well, but is also intolerant of rye and barley as well, while wheat intolerant people are not. Intolerances to food often can be inherited and run in the family, and unfortunately they often get worse as you get older. Food intolerances can also make things worse for heart disease, as well as other conditions associated with lungs, kidneys and the liver.